Masjid-e-Shamsi of Budaun is that very splendid mosque built on the order of Ruknuddin son of Shamsuddin Iltutmish. Its construction was completed in 630 AD. The plate of the royal era still exists on the main gate. Nawab Qutbuddin Faruqi renovated it in 1013 AD. Kishwar Khan, second son of Nawab Qutbuddin gave attention to its repairs in 1065 AD. Nawab Farid, son of Nawab Kishwar Khan converted it as a magazine storing ammunitions therein.
This structure of the Masjid-e-Shamsi remained in this very condition for a long time. Maulvi Mohammad Raziullah Sb Marhoom, the ruler of Budaun thought in 1855-56 to repair the dome and he got executed the renovation works inside and outside the dome by donations.
Mr Lamb Bahadur was appointed as the collector of Budaun in 1886. He was fond of archeology. He commenced the works gaining attention of the well-to-do persons of the city to the condition of the Masjid-e-Shamsi. When donations were collected, the gate and the western portion of the mosque were repaired. Khan Bahadur Maulvi Hamid Bakhsh Marhoom was appointed as the project manager of this construction work. Meanwhile, the Budaun district inhabitants had a complain regarding the administration of Ashra Muharram and Maulvi Tufail Ahmad Marhoom, Advocate of Budaun assumed the charge of this religious work and completed the task. Maulvi Sahab Marhoom spent huge money besides his valuable time on this holy endeavor and he left for heavenly abode after the construction got finished.
About one lakh rupees got spent in its last repair. This expenditure includes the splendid eastern stone gate, which was built afresh totally.
(Nizami Budauni)
Special Note: The Hindutva organizations have evil eyes on this Masjid-e-Shamsi as well. In October 2022, they claimed the site as one where a Hindu temple served as a foundation for the mosque. They propose demolishing the mosque in order to reclaim the site as a Hindu temple. May God save this mosque like many other mosques of the country on the radar of the communal forces! (Hamid Siddiqui: Director: MOI Portal
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